PHNOM PENH: In the afternoon of Monday, 25 April 2022, the Minister of Commerce, Pan Sorasak, led a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce to attend a meeting with the National Assembly's Expert Committee regarding the Draft Law on Food Safety under the chairmanship of the Acting Chairman of the Ninth Committee of the National Assembly, Kep Chuktema. The meeting was attended by many members of the National Assembly Expert Committee.

The main purpose of this meeting was to review and discuss the contents of the Draft Law on Food Safety before proposing for it to be included in the agenda of the upcoming plenary session of the National Assembly.

The Commerce Minister informed meeting attendants about the content and important benefits Cambodia can get from the new Food Safety Law when it comes into force, including:

- The establishment of a management mechanism for food business operators at all stages of the production chain, which will ensure that the food products circulating in Cambodian markets are of good quality, are safe and of appropriate hygiene standards for all citizens.

- The definition of basic requirements needed to promote food products that are safe, quality and in accordance with the standards set to ensure protection of life and the health of all people, ensure the effective protection of consumer interests, and contribute significantly to reducing poverty.

- The implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures to reduce technical barriers in line with the requirements of international food trade. It is an effective measure for Cambodia to establish its own food control system based on the risk approach to attract investment, promote the efficiency of food export diversification and ensure fair and equitable competition.

The Minister also informed the meeting attendees that the features of the food safety law include:

- Food safety is considered a joint and multi-sectoral responsibility that requires the participation of ministries, institutions and stakeholders, who must be responsible for the implementation, management, coordination and safety quality control at all stages of the production chain.

- The draft law on food safety will enable Cambodia to develop a modern food safety system through the development of preventive methods and control over the production chain, rather than inspection and analysis of finished products.

- This draft law will allow Cambodia to adopt national and international standards and set technical regulations and food requirements which are to be applied throughout the entire food production chain, from the stage of initial production, to processing, and up until the final use. This is an important principle for Cambodian products to abide by in order to be promoted and recognized in the world market.

Concluding the meeting, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Vice-Chairman and High Member of the National Assembly Expert Committee expressed their full support of the Draft Law on Food Safety and expressed their appreciation to the drafting team led by the Minister of Commerce, for making great efforts to successfully draft this law.